9 scrap dealers held for Deonar dumping yard fire

Nine persons have been arrested in connection with the fire that broke out in the Deonar dumping ground here last month, police said today.
DCP (Zone VI) Sangramsinh Nishandar told a press conference that the nine held last evening were scrap dealers from eastern suburban Govandi and were identified as Shamin Sheikh, Alibaba Sheikh, Sonel Sheikh, Shohaib Sheikh, Umar Ghani, Mohammed Sheikh, Umar Ghani, Rajesh Mahadik and Jai Prakash Yadav.
The arrested were produced before a court today, which sent them to 14 days judicial custody.
The accused would send rag pickers to light fires in the dumpyard so that the garbage burns and it becomes easier for them to collect metal items and other leftovers, the DCP said.

The nine scrap dealers were arrested in connection with the March 19 fire incident after the statements of around 25 witnesses were recorded, he said.
They have been booked under IPC section 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance), 436, 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) rw 34 (common intention).
The March 19 blaze at the dumping yard broke out barely two months after a massive fire there that continued to rage for several days, causing serious health issues to residents.